Defense contractor Lockheed Martin says their F-35B Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing (STOVL) Lightning II test aircraft completed the first-ever Vertical Takeoff (VTO) of the F-35B variant on 10 May 2013. The location was Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, according to the statement issued by Lockheed.

Lockheed Martin says the latest in a series of F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) high angle of attack (AOA) testing is complete. According to Lockheed, the testing accomplished high AOA beyond both the positive and negative maximum command limits, including intentionally putting the aircraft out of control in several configurations.

The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter has flown a bumpy route to operational status. In fact, as we go to press, the F-35B is grounded. Notwithstanding those issues which should surprise nobody who understands advanced capability aircraft design and testing, the aircraft and the thus far proven capabilities are pretty impressive to behold. Some of which you may enjoy viewing in this video

The F-35 Lightning II JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) and the first Air Force Airman to fly it is the subject of this military aviation video news story. A pilot from Edwards Air Force Base, California, became the first Air Force and government test pilot to fly the F-35 Lightning II during a test sortie at the Lockheed Martin facility January 30 at Naval Air Station Fort Worth.

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AeroSpaceNews.com was launched in July 1997, making it the first online aerospace news site and true pioneer of internet news publication. The editor and publisher (same guy) is a former staff photojournalist at industry leader Flight International Magazine.
He has also served as staff AeroSpace Expert at KFWB Newsradio, contributed multiple cover stories to Aviation Week and Space Technology, along with on-camera and behind the scenes expertise to programs on the Military Channel, the History Channel, and the Discovery Channel.
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